Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-20
GEN. wALLACE's LECTURE.

| Last evening large and cultured audience
greeted Gen Lew Wallace at the Presbyte-
rian church. The lecture, which was based
upon his own personal observations in
Turkey, was one of the most interesting ever
delivered in the city, and was listened to
with the closest attention by the large au-
dience.
The speaker was introduced in q few short
remarks by Col Lewis.
The subject, he stated, was too large for
the time allotted; therefore, he took the lib
erty of introducing to his audience without
preliminary the heroic race of the world :;
for such the Turks were and
are. They came to their lands
through the chivalrous assistance given the
weaker of two contendlng powers who en-
gage in battle in their presence at their
early home near the head waters of the
| Euphrates. At the time of Solomon the
Great, their empire was greater than any
which had arisen since the death of Julius
Cesar. OF their present seat of empire the
| Bosphorous is the most pleasant summer
! place in the world; the city Of Constantine
| pie is well worthy visit.
He then took up the personality Of the
| Turks. By most of the Americans, Turks are
not held in the highest esteem, principally on
account of their religion end the Impression
created by reading English papers AMI books
| There is an excuse for the religious prejudice
more especially with the earliest of the
christian denominations; the ProtestaDts,
however, must thank the Turkish govern
nent for the privilege they now enjoy of
whiting and seeing the Holy sepulcher and
places connected with the life Of Christ. As
a people they have round faces, dark HAIR,
blacl, ewes and somew hct inclined to obe-eity
They love law if not engaged in war. The
men when young wear short robe>;
this increses in length with age.
The Turk loves diSquisition and runs to the
abstract. lie is not artistic has no faculty
for mechanics; is not clever merchant, and
thus much of the business is conducted by
Greeks and unprincipied men. They used to
be ho>pitable, they are SO still in the coun-
try. There is an Arabic language, yet not
so much can be said of the Turks it may
however, be lost in the multitude of works
upon the Koran. Their faith has undergone
no change, God is God and Mahomet is
his prophet is its burden and refrain
he Turks have many virtues that Chris
tians might study. Many drunken men
may be seen on the streets, but no drunken
TURKS; they love animals and birds; exceed
all nations in respect for women, and are the
u. nf IL,
graphic description of the hour of prayer il
the mosque. Their Distinguishing trait is
military. The humble>t believe that if he
be killed in battle he will be translated to
Paradise. Thi, is Jh, explanation OF the au-
dacity which distinguished the recent
Bedouius warfare against the English. The
troubles in the late struggle with Russia l.
to he set down as strifes with officers, no;
with the rank and file
The house Of the Turk is divided into two
parts, one III which thu master received his
friends, the other III which ladies' entertain
their friends. The latter is the haren The |
introduction of woman INTO the harem i |
the same as taking the VEIL" for when she |
enters it she bids forever farewell to her |
father, mother and all relatives. hilt |
meny of the wealthiest TURKS have plural |
ity of wives, yet polygaaiy is not universal |
There are many errors extant regarding |
their haiem About the first thing that the |
lasiies, who called upon the General aad his |
wife at Constantinope, asked to see
WAS the inside OF harem |
The first general deduction to be made from
the conversation of those whose curiosity |
had been satisfied. was shat this mysJefiou, |
quarters had been seen in Il new light
Then followed an interesting description of |
harern lie, Of the inmates, their Intelligence.
actions and entertainments
The Suit ms kindness tn himself, the speak |
er said he at first attributed to diploma Y |
bet he soon discovered that it came from a |
high regard he entertained for America. |
the United States" he once sail, |
was the only nation that had |
not conspired against me-" In
spoken OF, he is one of the most able mon
srchs of Europa He is perfectly familiar
with his province; but not familiar with the
methods of Europe. He is not cruel man
al, hough his po-er is absolute Not even
can hS be prevailed upon to sign a death
He Is about ~ wears of aye, of |
middle height, black eyes, saitow complexion.
black hair and whSkers, aud decidedly |
Roman nose. His ordinary apparel is Eu
ropean; on puhlic occasion he wears uniform.
yet it is of the plaineSt and simplest He
looks every inch gentleman. He possesses
the faculty Of 500 putting strangers at ease.
He has superb taste sni lives most elegantly.
Tbs Turkish empire, it is sail, Is drawing
to an end. When that end VIII come de
ponds upon the solution OF the Eastern
Question; for the gist OF II is the PARTITION
Of tne Turkish possession " hsn the six
great nations agree the Turks can nos With
stand their power; yet this settlement a!>
pears no nearer now than 1t did fifty wears
ago SO the sultan knows he can keep his
throne so long as he can play his enemies one
q yainst TIT other. when The star All ores
cent 60 down III the Bo,paoTus we viii hear
he crash
SECKLt.SNeSS.
Last evening there was another example